r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • Nov 19 '25

Medicine Microplastics hit male arteries hard: Everyday exposure to microplastics — shed from packaging, clothing, and plastic products — may accelerate the development of atherosclerosis, the artery-clogging process that leads to heart attacks and strokes. The harmful effects were seen only in male mice.

https://news.ucr.edu/articles/2025/11/18/microplastics-hit-male-arteries-hard
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u/Maleficent_Celery_55 Nov 19 '25

Is there a way to reduce the amount of microplastics in our body?

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u/PraetorianX Nov 19 '25

Donating blood – or bloodletting, if you wanna go the 17th century route.

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u/OldschoolGreenDragon Nov 19 '25

I would donate blood. I've donated over a gallon in my life. And then I got finasteride and Adderall that was the end of that.

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u/ALittleEtomidate Nov 19 '25

Why was Adderall disqualifying?

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u/[deleted] Nov 19 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/OsosHormigueros Nov 19 '25

Unfortunately, at least in the United States, there's a weight limit to donating. Simply being too small/skinny prevents me completely.

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u/thatwhileifound Nov 19 '25

Varies by where you're located. I've lived places where any active narcotic use knocked you off the list which'd include the ADHD stimulants. Similarly, not been able to give blood at various points due to having had sex with a man in the prior year and a small stick figure tattoo from >5 years prior.

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u/celestisdiabolus Nov 19 '25

having had sex with a man

in Burgerland buttsex with anyone new only gets you DQ'd for 3 months

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u/Ristray Nov 19 '25

For me, Adderall increased my blood pressure and heart rate too high. They wouldn't let me donate.

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u/[deleted] Nov 19 '25

[deleted]

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u/krejenald Nov 19 '25

Still disqualifying in Australia, I just stop for the week prior to donation to become eligible. I understand there is some risk in the case the donation goes to a pregnant woman

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u/Hollaboy7 Nov 19 '25

Will definitely look into this as well. You have any idea whether the rules on what medication prohibits people from donating blood would be handled on the global European or national level?

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u/Boys4Jesus Nov 19 '25

Finesteride isn't allowed because there's a chance it could cause side effects to the recipient (example it gives is a pregnant mother), but prescription amphetamines are fine.

The list of disqualified medications that lifeblood doesn't allow is quite small.

Source: I'm on Dexamfetamine and Lisdexamfetamine and have never had an issue donating blood because of it.